Head of massive KC drug ring gets life in prison

Kansas City, Mo.  A 43-year-old Kansas City man who considered himself the “Michael Corleone of Kansas City” has been sentenced to life in federal prison without parole for his role in a multimillion dollar drug trafficking conspiracy.

Rasheed Shakur, also known as Charles G. Cook, was convicted in February of being the leader of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy. Federal prosecutors say the ring distributed millions of dollars worth of marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy in the Kansas City area from July 2004 through June 2009.

Thirty other people were charged in the conspiracy. Of those, 27 pleaded guilty, one is incarcerated in Mexico and two haven’t been caught.

In addition to his sentence, Shakur will forfeit nearly $3 million, three homes and two vehicles to the government.